Rotary engine



Dec. 1, 1936. J I s, UM 2,062,446

ROTARY ENGINE Filed May 4, 1935 4 Sheets-$heet 1 iii I Jruq' IN VENTOR.

z; 2 ATTORNEY.

' p am de! C'ollum,

S. J. COLLUM Dec. 1, 1936.

ROTARY ENGINE Filed may 4, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTUR. Samuel Calla m, y

' ATTORNEY.

s. J. COLLUM Dec. 1, 1936.

ROTARY ENGINE Filed May 4, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Samuel Calla/m,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 1-, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to a rotary fluid-pressure motor and it relates particularly toa motor which is adapted to use an explosive vapor such as vapor including gasoline or kerosene.

It is an object of my invention to construct a rotary motor wherein a substantially continuous force is applied as thedriving force.

Another object of my invention is to construct an engine utilizing an expansive fluid which exerts substantially a constant force upon a rotatable piston. Another object of my invention is to construct a rotary fluid pressure motor wherein the rotor has a high moment of inertia and is perfectly balanced to serve as a fly wheel.

' Another object is to utilize the various mechanisms embodied in the motor so that its moment of inertia is relatively high and to dispense with a fly wheel.

Another object of my invention is to construct a motor wherein the elements may be easily assembled and disassembled when repairs or replacement of parts are necessary.

Another object of my invention is to construct a rotary motor which will not require the conventional starting apparatus. 1

Another object is to construct a rotary motor so that the parts are symmetrically arranged to form a uniformly balanced rotor.

Another object is to construct a simple uni-' piston which has its inner portion suitably supported by the members defining the toroidal bore.

Another object of my invention is to construct a rotary motor wherein the inlet and discharge orifices or passageways are simple in construction and wherein the controls for the passageways are simple and inexpensive in construction.

A further object is to construct a rotary motor which utilizes a fixed member as a barrier in the toroidal bore.

Other objects of my invention areto provide an improved device of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, that is sturdy in construction, and which possesses a maximum degree of efliciency and-of accuracy.

With the above and related objects in view, my invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my invention embodied in a rotary motor.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the supporting plates upon which the rotary piston is suitably supported.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rotary piston.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the hemispherical casings for the rotary motor.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an inner bushing upon which the plates, one of which is illustrated in Fig, 2, is fastened. i

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the walls which defines the chamber or bore wherein the .fiuid may expand.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the second complementary plates which defines the chamber or bore for the expansion of the fluid.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken of the cylinder head.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of the cylinder head within the toroidal bore.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the cylinder head holder.

Fig. 14 is a sectional exploded view of the fixed member and its cylinder head and the members which define the toroidal bore.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, I disclose in Fig. 1 my invention embodied in a rotary engine. My engine is supported upon a base generally designated as A.

More specifically the base or support A is com-- prised of longitudinally extending members. 20,

22 suitably joined by transverse members 24, 26.

. Upon the transverse member 24, a bearing 26 is when an exploding gaseous fuel is to be used is placed close to the charging inlet. Whenan explosive fuel is used a mechanically operated check valve must be installed in the intake port. The discharge outlet or exhaust passageway 34 may be directly extended into the atmosphere, or it may be connected to a discharge apparatus muiiler (not shown), the type of discharge and inlet apparatus being dependent upon the fuel utilizeds The fixed cylinder head C is attached to an interior portion of the fixed supporting ring B.

The cylinder head C, see Figs. 8, 10, 11, 12 and 14, comprises a small circular disc-like member 38 having a plurality of grooves on its curved bounding surface so that expansible curved rings 40, 4I- are fitted therein. The disc-like member 38 is fitted between spaced lugs 44, 45 and held I thereto by a polygonal shaped through bolt 46.

The lugs 44, 45 are formed integrally with a short arcuate base 48, illustrated in Figs. 10, 11 and 13, and'the base sets into a suitable complementary recess in the inner curved surface of the fixed supporting ring B. The base 48 is detachably secured within the recess by tap bolts 50, 5|, Figs. 10 and 11.

The rotor, generally designated as D, see Figs. 1, 8 and 9, is comprised of two hemispherical shells DI D2. Since each shell is similarly constructed, the details of construction of one hell will suifice since the description of one will app y to the other. The shell DI has a circumferential rim or flange 54 at its open end extending radially outwardly,

and an annular recessed boss 56 extends substan: tially outwardly at the apex of its closed end. A shaft 58, illustrated in Figs. 1, 8 and 9 is fixedly mounted at one of its ends within the recessed boss 56, and the shaft is suitably supported in the bearing 38 for rotation.

The wall of the shell is suitably tapered to withstand the mechanical stresses and strains imposed thereon, and parallel circular bosses 60, 6| extend on the interior surface of the shell. Exterior bosses 62, 63 are in alignment with bosses 68, 6|, respectively, and are located near the recessed boss 58. Similarly located bosses 60A, 6IA, 62A, and 63A are formed upon the shell D2. Suitable holes and bores in the bosses provide supports for tie bolts or rods 66, 66 and bearings for rotatable shafts 61, 68, the latter mentioned shafts hereinafter will be further described.

Interposed between the shells DI, D2 are members, generally designated as E and El, well illustrated in Figs. 6, '7, and 9, for forming the toroidal bore. Since the members E and El are constructed complementary to one another, the details of construction of only one member will be described, since the description will apply to the other. The member E is a disc-like ring member having a fiat outer face 68. An inner face III has a groove II near its curved periphery, designated as I2. On the same face but close to the groove E, and slot 16A is in the member El. The slot I8, of a width slightly greater-than the thickness of the piston, extends from a point adjacent the junction of the face I0 and the groove I3 as one position to a second position diametrically opposite the first position, which is also at a point adjacent the junction'of the face I0 and the groove I3.

.Upon the face I4 is an annular outwardly extending projection 11 which interfits witha complementairy recess I8 on face of member El. In

-all other details of construction with the exception of the recess 18, the member El is similar to member E.

When the members E, El are fitted together, face Ill on member E is spaced from a similar face 88. on the member El. occupied by a tongue 82, Figs. 8, 9, and 14, which is integrally formed with the fixed ring member B. The tongue 82 has a curved inner surface 84 and substantially fiat parallel sidesuriaces 86, 81

The intervening space is,

which are spaced a distance apart substantially vent the loss of power from the toroidal bore while in operation.

Located within the inner portion of the assembled members E, El is a ring-like bushing, generally designated as F, illustrated in Figs. 5 and 9. The bushing F has a segmental spherical outer surface 98, which interfits with the complementary bounding surface "I5 of the member E, El. A plurality of radially extending bolts, designated as 88, retain the bushing and the members E, El rigidly together. Suitable openings are, also, in the ring-like bushing F for the flange holding bolts 88 and for the passage of the tierods 68, 66.

The circular disc-like piston G, illustrated in perspective in Fig. 3, has three equi-spaced peripheral cut-outs 82, 83, 84 therein, and a series of radially projecting teeth 86 on the inner circular surface. Each cut-out extends from the peripheral edge inwardly a distance so that it clears the inner edge of the abutment rings 40, 4| of the cylinder head and is of a width approximately one time that of the diameter of the cylinder head plus one-third the thickness of the cylinder head. In other words, the size of each cut-out is approximately equal to one time the cylinder bore plus one-third the distance between the inner surface of the lugs 44 and 45. The

teeth 86- proiect radially towards the center of the disc piston G.

The piston G is suitably mounted internally of the hemispherical shellsD, DI and passes through the slots I8, 16A at right angles to the plane in which the members E,EI are located. It is to be observed that in operation the piston G has twd motions with respect to the cylinder head C; it

simultaneously is rotated about the shafts 58, 58

as one axis and revolves about,a changing axis which is aways perpendicular to a line joining the shafts 58, 58.

The cut-outs 82, 83, 84 are located in the periphery of the piston G so that at a predetermined portion of the cycle of operation the stationary cylinder head 0 will be located within one of the recesses and upon movement of the piston G to a position away from the cylinder head, as for example, to the position indicated by broken lines GI, Fig.. 10, a solid portion of piston G will be wholly within the transverse section of the cylin- Brackets H, H2 are identical in construction.

and brackets HI, H2 are identical in'construc! tion.

The bracket H, illustratedin Fig. 2, comprises a semi-circular disc-like leg 9'! having its straight edge joined at right angles by two flanges 98, 99. A web I00 joins the outer surfaces of the bracket members 91, 98, and the other webs IOI, I02 and I03 are also added for strengthening purposes. The flanges 99, 99 are joined to the disc-like rings E, El by means of holding bolts or screws, and the free end of the portion 91 is fitted into one of the recesses I05, I05 in the hemispherical shell D. A flat side I06 of the leg portion 91 is located to engage'one of the flat surfaces of the piston G.

Complementarily located with respect to the other flat surface of the piston G is the bracket HI, which is constructed similarly to the bracket H, but it has in addition to the legs and webs a bearing I08 in the semi-circular leg portion Fig. 9.

A short shaft H0 is journaled in the bearing I08 and 'at one end a spur gear I I2 is positioned to intermesh with the teeth 99 of the piston G.

Upon the other'end of the shaft H0 is a bevel gear II4 which is in mesh. with another bevel gear H6. The bevel gear H9 is positioned upon' the shaft 99 which carries at its other end a spur gear H0. The spur gear 'I I9 meshes with a flxed timing gear I20, the latter being rigidly located upon holding bolts attached to the bearing 90,

' or the gear I20 may suitably be attached to the transverse member 29. It is obvious that upon rotation of the rotor, the inter-meshing of gears I20 and U9 revolves the shaft 99, the bevel gears H6 and II4, the shaft IIO, the spur gear H2, and finally-the piston G.

A second similar driving gear train. connection exists between the stationary gear I20 and the teeth 99 of the piston. The second gear train inend of'the shaft is a spur-"gear I92 which is in mesh with the gear teeth 99. Thus, the piston G is driven by two gears .II2, I92 from two independent gear trains. The two gears balance the driving force imposed upon thepiston in order that the piston functions accurately for a long period-of time.

The piston is timed to rotate so that one of the openings 92, 99, 99 will interflt with the cylinder head C just at the time that the piston arrives at the cylinder head.

Dy employing three openings in the peripheral edge of the pisto'n G,'the piston is uniformly balanced and the speed of the piston need only be one-third of the speed of the rotor D. Thus, because of the slower speed of the piston, the strain imposed thereon willbe reduced- As the piston G is rotated about the axis formed by a line joining the two bearings 29 and 99, it also revolves in a plane which intersects the above designated axis. The piston, also, revolves about an axis perpendicular to the axis about which the rotor revolves.

Another advantage of using three peripheral openings is as follows:-

Assumirfg a charge of expansive fluid is e'ntering the toroidal bore in the rotor by way of the inlet 32, if the openings in the piston were 180 apart and one of the openings in the periphery of the piston is coincidentwith the toroidal bore and the cylinder head C, then the second opening wouldcoincide with the toroidal bore thereby allowing a free passage of the expansive fluid from the inlet 92 to the exhaust 99 with the result no turning or driving force would be exerted on the piston. With the openings on the piston positioned 120 apart, as illustrated in Fig. 3,-the piston always blocks the toroidal bore cojointly with the cylinder head, thereby presenting a surface to receive the force of the expansive fluid for the entire revolution of the rotor.

The rotor D. is assembled so that the bushing I", the disc-like rings E, EI, the brackets H, HI, H2 and H9 and the-piston G, as well as the driving: gears, form a unit. The unit is assembled in and around the member 25 and so that the bushing F and other parts are locked in position by virtue or the interfltting inclined curved surfaces 15 and 90 as well as the holding bolts 99, 99, 99.

The member E is held to the shell member DI by tap bolts I 3i -I9I through the flange 99, and similar tap bolts I99, I33 hold members D2 and El, together.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

An explosive charge is introduced through the inlet 92. When an explosive mixture is used, the spark plug 99 will ignite it and the'expanding gases will impinge upon theflxed cylinder head C and a solid portion of the rotary piston G. Since the piston G is suitably retained by the members E, El andDI, D2 the resultant force will rotate the rotor D. The fluid pressure means can be continuously administered so that the starting and running force will be greatly augmented. A

' quantityof the expanding gas will at a portion of the cycle of revolution of the rotor D be retained in a portion of the cylindrical bore by two faces of thepiston G" that arewithin the bore, this arrangement is necessary, for it is to be re- -me'mbered that the construction of the piston'and the toroidal bore'is such that the toroidal bore is never continuously open. As the expanding fluid impinges onthe piston and the piston revolves as well as rotates, the charge pushes the piston p'assthe exhaust open- -ing where the fluid passes into the atmosphere or other suitable exhaust receiver.

The piston G as it approaches the cylinder head.

has one of its openings 92, 99 or, 99 coincide with cylinder head so that the cycle of, operation maybe repeated. 7

Of c urse, the timing gear arrangementrevolves e piston G in synchronismwith. the :ota- *tion of the rotor. v

My invention may be applied as a'stationary motor or it may be applied to drive movable vehicles such as automobiles oraeroplanes. The

protruding from said fixed member, a bore in said rotary member into which said cylindrical head protrudes, a piston in said bore whereby an ex-' panding fluid entering said bore by way of said inlet to a portion of said bore between said cyl- -inder head and said piston will exert a force upon the piston to rotate the rotary member, said piston having an opening therein to permit the piston to pass the cylinder head, an inlet passageway for the admission of fluid to said bore, and an exhaust passageway for the egression of the spent fluid.

2. A rotary engine comprising an inlet and an exhaust for the ingress and egress of motivating fluid, a rotor and a cooperable fixed member, said rotor including a toroidal bore, a cylinder head projecting in said bore, said bore partially surrounding said cylinder head, a piston having an opening in its peripheral edge, said piston being rotatably mounted in said rotor and extending through said bore, and means to rotate said piston during the rotation of said rotor.

3. A piston comprising a disc member having an opening at its center, a plurality of internal teeth radially extending into said opening, and a plurality of equi-spaced openings in the periph- -ery of said piston;

4. A rotary engine comprising a fixed ring member, an inlet passageway and an outlet passageway in said fixed member, means for exploding a fluid explosive mixture, a cylinder head extending from the inner surface of said ring member, a rotary member fixed upon two rotatable shafts, said rotary member comprising two hemispherical members, a piston having an opening therein to permit the piston to pass the cylinder head, a pair of disc' members-having a slot thereinfor retaining said piston, said piston being adapted to rotate in said slots during the rotation of said rotary member.

5. In a rotary engine comprising a shaft, a set of gears, a rotor rotatably mounted upon said shaft, said rotor having a toroidal bore, a piston located internally of said rotor and. arranged to block said toroidal bore, a cylinder head in said bor'e, said piston being adapted to be rotated by said gears, said piston being movable about an axis within the rotor and also beingmovable in an axis aboutwhich the rotor revolves, andsaid piston having an opening therein to permit the piston to pass the cylinder head at a predetermined position.

- 6. A rotary engine comprising an inlet and an exhaust for the ingress and egress of motivating fluid; an annular fixed member; a radially extending cylinder head securely fastened to said annular member; a rotor including a toroidal bore into which said cylinder head protrudes; a

disk-like piston having a plurality of peripheral" synchronous gear mechanism for rotating said piston, said gear mechanism interposed between a fixed gear on a support member and said teeth on said disk-like piston, and including two driving gears meshing with the said teeth on said disklike member, said synchronous gear mechanism arranged to provide synchronous operation between the said rotary member and said disc-like piston whereby said piston peripheral openings permit the piston to pass the cylinder head.

7. A rotary engine comprising an inlet and an exhaust for the ingress and egress of motivating fluid, a fixed ring-like member, a tongue extending from the central portion of the inner surface of said ring-like member, a rotor adapted to be rotated within said ring-like member, said rotor including a plurality of members having arcuate grooves therein for forming a portion of a toroidal bore, said members having the said tongue protrude therebetween whereby the tongue will complete the surface of the toroidal bore, and means on said fixed member and rotor against which fluid pressure may be applied for rotating the rotor.

8. A rotary engine comprising an inlet and an exhaust for the ingress and egress of motivating fluid, a fixed ring-like member, a tongue extending from the central portion of the inner surface of said ring-like member, a cylinder head extending from the ring-like member, a rotor adapted to be rotated within said ring-like member, said rotor including a plurality of hemispherical shells, an intermediate member to 'which the said shells are rigidly connected, an

incomplete. toroidal bore partially surrounding said cylinder head and withinsaid intermediate member, said tongue protruding into the said intermediate member and completing the toroidal bore, said tongue and said intermediate members interfitting, and -a piston extending into said toroidal bore and having peripheral openings and being operably connected to said rotor whereby an expansive fiuid interposed and exhausted from said bore between the.cylinder head and said piston will rotate said piston, said piston being rotatably mounted, and said piston openings permitting the piston to pass the cylinder head.

9. A rotary engine comprising an inlet andan exhaustfor the ingress and egress of motivating fiuid, a fixed ring-like member, a tongue extending from the central portion of the inner surface of said ring-like member, a cylinder head extending from the ring-like member, a rotor adapted to be rotated within said ring-like member, said rotor including a plurality of hemispherical shells, an intermediate member to which the said shells are rigidly connected, an incomplete toroidal bore partially surrounding said cylinder head and within said intermediate member, said tongue protruding into the .said intermediate member, and completing the toroidal bore, said tongue and said intermediate members interfitting, and a piston extending into said toroidal bore and having-peripheral opento rotate in a plane transverse to the direction plane in which the rotor revolves, said piston openings permitting the piston to pass the cylinder head, and means to rotate said piston during the movement of said rotor.

10. A rotaryengine comprising an inlet and an exhaust for the ingress and egress of motivating fluid, a fixed ring-like member, a tongue extending from the central portion of the inner surface of said ring-like member, a cylinder head extending from the ring-like member, a rotor adapted to be rotated within said ring-like memwill rotate said piston, said piston being rotatably mounted to rotate with said rotor and also to rotate in a plane transverse to the direction plane in which the rotor revolves, said piston having a plurality of equispaced openings in the peripheral edge thereof, each of said openings being adapted to interflt with said cylinder head, and means to rotate said piston in synchronism with the movement of said rotor.

11. A rotary motor comprising a fixed ringlike member, a cylinder head extending from said ring-like member, an inlet and spark plug insaid ring-like member on one side of said cylinder head, an exhaust outlet in said ring-like member on the opposite side of said cylinder head, a rotor including a revolvable piston and a bore, said piston having a plurality of peripheral openings and extending into said bore whereby explosive fluid may react upon said cylinder head and said piston, said piston peripheral openings permitting the piston to pass the cylinder head, and means to revolve said piston in synchronism with the movement of the said rotor, the expansive force exerted by an explosive fluid being impressed on said piston for the major portion of a complete revolution of the rotor.

12. A rotary engine comprising a fixed member and a cooperative rotary member, an inlet for the admission of fluid and an exhaust through which "the fluid may be discharged, said inlet and exhaust being located in said lixed member, said rotary member including a toroidal bore, a piston insaid bore, a cylinder head attached to said fixed member and located within said bore whereby the reaction of the fluid on the piston and cylinder head will move the rotary member, meansto rotate said piston about an axis independent of the simultaneous rotation of said rotary member, and said piston having openings therein whereby said piston may pass said cylinder head at predetermined intervals of its'independent rotation.

13. A rotary engine comprising a stationary ring-like member and a cooperative rotor, an inlet for the admission of motivating fluid and an exhaust through which said fluid may be discharged, said inlet and exhaust being located in said fixed member, a tongue extending from the central portion of the inner surface of said ringlike member, a cylinder head extending from the ring-like member, a plurality of expansible rings on said cylinder head, a rotor including a plurality of hemispherical shells, an intermediate member to which the said shells are rigidly connected, said intermediate member and said tongue completing a toroidal bore, said bore partially surrounding said cylinder head, a piston mounted at right angles to the. plane of and passing through said bore, said piston having a plurality of equi-spaced openings in the peripheral edge thereof, each. of said openings being adapted to interfit with said cylinder head and a portion of thepiston being within the peripheral bore at all times, and means to rotate said piston insynchronism with the movement of said rotor whereby the fluid may be utilized to move the piston and alsoto permit the spent fluid to be discharged.

SAMUEL J. CQLLUM. 

